Hail puts dent in San Luis Valley potato volumes

Demand for potatoes from Colorado’s San Luis Valley could be even stronger than first anticipated, following hailstorms Aug. 16-17 expected to reduce volumes from the region. The storms, which cut a mile-wide swathe near the towns of Center and Mosca, are expected to put up to a 15% dent in volumes marketed by Center, Colo.-based Skyline Potato Co., said Randy Bache, general manager. David Tonso, sales manager and co-owner of Canon Potato Co. Inc., Center, Colo., said Aug. 19 it was too soon to tell the extent of the damage from the hailstorm, which hit his farm hard. “It was as big and cut as long a swath as any hailstorm I’ve ever seen in the valley,” he said.